A compromise reached by the German Care Commission, involving representatives from both unions and employer associations, has secured a modest increase to the statutory minimum wage for caregivers, but the agreement has drawn criticism from labor advocates who argue it falls significantly short of what is needed to adequately compensate the demanding and essential work.
The agreement, slated to take effect in July 2026 and again in July 2027, stipulates rises of 2.6% each time over a 27-month period. While welcomed by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) as a “positive signal” the raises – amounting to increments of 16 to 21 cents per hour depending on the caregiver’s experience and qualifications – are being portrayed as insufficient by the Verdi union.
Sylvia Bühler, a Verdi federal executive board member, voiced disappointment, stating that the aim was to align the minimum wage with entry-level salaries within the public sector wage agreement (TVöD). “The employers were simply not prepared for that” Bühler stated. She underscored that the resultant wage levels remain markedly distant from a performance-based and equitable compensation for a profession often characterized by grueling physical and emotional demands while simultaneously providing a crucial societal service.
Crucially, Bühler revealed that Verdi was forced to actively resist proposals that would have resulted in a reduction in pay compared to the existing regulations. She emphasized the crucial role the minimum wage plays – representing the legally enforceable lowest pay rate in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. Verdi, she said, reluctantly agreed to the compromise after careful deliberation, acknowledging the alternatives were even less favorable.
Minister Warken’s optimism regarding improvements in caregiver pay contrasts starkly with the union’s perspective. She highlighted that wages have already risen significantly in recent years, with caregivers in many institutions reportedly receiving average salaries above the levels now set by the care commission. However, this assertion has failed to quell the criticism that the statutory minimum represents a baseline that still leaves many caregivers struggling financially, especially considering the rising cost of living and the intense pressure of the work.
Under the commission’s recommendations, the lowest hourly rate for care assistants will increase from €16.10 to €16.52 on July 1, 2026 and to €16.95 on July 1, 2027. Caregivers with at least one year of training will see their hourly wage rise from the current €17.35 to €17.80 in 2026, followed by €18.26 in 2027. Rates for registered nurses will experience similar modest increases, rising from €20.50 to €21.03 in 2026 and to €21.58 in 2027.
The agreement highlights a persistent tension between the government’s desire to control costs and the urgent need to address the systemic undervaluation of essential care work, potentially fueling further calls for more decisive action to ensure adequate compensation and improve working conditions in the sector.
